Invalid bed-rest.



UNITED STATES P TENT OFFIC JOHN F. VVILKINS, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN S. LAND, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

INVALID BED-REST.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691 ,224, dated January 14, 1902. Application filed une 8, 1901. Serial No. 63,718- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F.WILKINs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Invalid Bed-Rests; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my rest. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section, as applied and adjusted for a high inclination. Fig. 3 is asimilar view adjusted for a low inclination.

This invention has relation to invalid-rests, and has for its object the provision of such a rest in the form of a bedstead attachment easily adjustable for low or high inclinations, of few parts, simple in construction, durable, and cheap to manufacture.

With this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the main frameof my device, having the side rails a. and crossbraces a, and B is the rest-frame of similar length to that of the main frame, in which it closely fits, the two frames being pivoted together at their lower portions, one of the cross-braces a being employed for this purpose in the present instance. About midway of the length of the two frames are the two pawls B, one at each side, and carried by cross brace or rod a such pawls being arranged to engage the teeth of suitable racks forming a part of the rest-frame B to secure said frame in its different adjustments. The rod a extends through the side rails of the main frame and carries the turn-buttons O, one at each side of the device. At the limit of its inward movement the frame B rests against these pawls, and as the turn-buttons are operated, which is possible from either side of the device or of the bed, the pawls take a bearing against frame B to raise it, the pawls slipping from tooth to tooth of the racks until the desired inclination is reached.

At the upper end of the main frame A the side bars thereof are curved downwardly or away from the frame B to form hooks D, which hooks, in the application of the device to low inclinations, as shown. in Fig. 3. of the drawings, fit over and behind the bolster or pillow and render unnecessary the disturbance thereof, at the same time rendering the adjustment of the main frame more secure against displacement, or in the application of the device to higher inclinations, as shown in Fig. 2, at their rounded end portions d fit against the headboard of the bed, a covering of felt or other suitable material being provided for the rounded ends of these hook portions to avoid abrasion of the headboard and to prevent slipping. In the use of the device for higher inclinations the arched or hooked upper ends of the side rails form eifective means for resisting strain.

The adj ustability of the main frame A against the headboard for higher inclinations of the rest-frame, and for which such main frame is especially adapted, as pointed out, renders necessary a lesser range of independent adjustment of the rest-frame to obtain all mannerof low and high inclinations thereof. This again renders practicable the employment of a comparatively short pawl B, and still have such pawl exert a powerful lifting bearing against the upper end of the restframe when turning the cross-rod o The short pawl resists strain brought thereagainst by weights upon the rest-frame much better than a longpawl.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An invalid bed-rest, comprising the main or lower frame, having the side bars thereof curved downwardly at one end into hook portions arranged to fit over and behind the bolster or pillow, the vertically-adjustable restframe pivoted to the main frame, and means for supporting the rest-frame as adjusted, whereby removal of the bolster or pillow is rendered unnecessary, and a more secure adjustment against displacement is obtained for the main frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JNO. F. WILKINS.

Witnesses:

HERBERT (LEMERY, GEORGE M. ANDERSON. 

